Anthony J. Drexel Biddle Jr., a frequent donor and supporter of fencing.
Birth: Dec. 17, 1897
Philadelphia
Philadelphia County
Pennsylvania, USADeath: Nov. 13, 1961
Washington
District of Columbia
District Of Columbia, USA
US Ambassador. US Major General. A member of one of Pennsylvania’s leading families, he was a businessman, sportsman, diplomat and soldier. He enjoyed boxing, tennis, fencing, skiing and boating. His significance in the world of fencing is linked to the “Biddle Cup Tournament” sponsored by the Biddle family for all of New York City schools.
His father, Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle (1874-1948) was a pioneer of bayonet and hand-to-hand combat training in the US Marine Corps based on his training in the sport of fencing. Reading the New York Times (February 15, 1942), one learns that:
When the first World War started, Colonel Biddle opened a military training camp near Lansdowne [Pennsylvania], where he trained 4,000 young Philadelphians in military maneuvres. His system then, as now, was based on long hours of callisthenics and gymnastics to harden young bodies for the rigors of the advanced training.
When he judged his charges ready for the more arduous training Colonel Biddle taught them the use of the machete, saber, dagger, bayonet, and hand grenade. He taught them also the techniques of jiu-jitsu and the French punch-and-kick man-killing attack known as savat [sic].
A.J. Drexel Biddle II enlisted in the New York Calvary during World War I and was promoted to captain. He joined the diplomatic service in 1935 when he was appointed as Minister of Norway, a post he left in 1937 to become the Ambassador to Poland. With the Polish government, he and his wife escaped as the Germans overran the country; traveling to France where he served as France’s interim ambassador in 1940. When the exiled Polish government set up residency in London in 1941, he was also commissioned as the minister of the Netherlands, Norway, Greece, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia. In 1942, he was appointed Ambassador to all of these countries, and Belgium, and served as such until 1943. He resigned in 1944 and returned to active duty; serving on the planning staff for Operation Overload. After the war, he held other staff positions, as liaison and chief of staff. In 1955, while serving as the Adjutant General of his native state, he was promoted to brigadier general. For his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. From March to October 1961, he was the Ambassador to Spain. (bio by: Beth Painter)
 Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, I
Birth: 1874 Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle (1874-1948) Amatuer Boxer; Colonel US Army; Author; Millionaire (b. 1874, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA – d. Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA) Birth: Marriage: Anthony joined the Marine Corps in 1917 as a Captain and worked as a military trainer. Cordelia Drexel Biddle was the screenwriter for the movie: “The Happiest Millionaire”. Information from: Find a Grave |
Col. Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle instructs marines. 1943
